WINNER TAKE ALL: The Yankees are playing a winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 for the eighth time (also 1981, ‘95, ‘97, 2000, ‘01, ‘05 and ‘11) and second straight season. They lost in last year’s ALDS Game 5 at home against Detroit. This is the 10th time they will play a deciding Game 5 in a best-of-five format (also 1976 and 1977 ALCS, each against Kansas City). … The Yankees are 5-4 all time in Game 5 of a “best-of-five” series (3-4 in the ALDS), and own an 11-11 record all time in winner-take-all games of a series. They are 8-7 in ALDS games when facing elimination. … This marks the fifth time they will play a winner-take-all Game 5 at home. They won each of the first three before losing last year.

FRIENDS CLOSE, ENEMIES CLOSER: Over the first four games of this series, the Yankees and Orioles have been separated by no more than one run at the end of 41 of the 43 innings played.

KEY TO THE KINGDOM: Yankees starters have combined to go 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA (30.2 IP, 8 ER) this series, with 23 strikeouts and a .209 opponents average. Yankees relievers have combined to allow just one earned run in 11.1 innings (0.79 ERA, 6 hits, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts).

ACE ON THE MOUND: CC Sabathia is undefeated over his last seven postseason starts (3-0, 4.66 ERA) and is 6-1 with a 3.29 ERA in postseason 11 starts as a Yankee. He has made one start in a postseason game in which his team was facing elimination (2010 ALCS Game 5 against Texas) winning that contest (6 IP, 11 H, 2 ER). Conversely, Sabathia has made one previous postseason start in which his team could have clinched a series (2007 ALCS Game 5 against Boston with Cleveland) taking the loss (6 IP, 10 H, 4 ER).

ALCS GAME TIMES ANNOUNCED: Major League Baseball announced the game times for the League Championship Series. If the Yankees win this game, they’ll play ALCS Game 1 at 8:07 p.m. on Saturday. Game 2 will be at 4:07 p.m. on Sunday.

UPDATE, 5:12 p.m.: 1-2-3 inning for Sabathia to start this thing.

UPDATE, 5:27 p.m.: Another perfect inning for Sabathia. Goes without saying that the Yankees need some offense.

UPDATE, 5:44 p.m.: Sabathia perfect through three innings. He’s doing his part so far.

UPDATE, 6:18 p.m.: Leadoff single by Teixeira breaks up the no-hitter in the fifth. Still no outs in the inning. Chance to do something.

UPDATE, 6:27 p.m.: Teixeira stolen base, Granderson single and Yankees run all in the same inning.

UPDATE, 6:45 p.m.: Very, very close call on McLouth’s foul ball. Might have grazed the pole, but that’s almost impossible to say. It’s ruled foul and CC gets the strikeout on the next pitch.

UPDATE, 6:57 p.m.: Ichiro gives the Yankees an insurance run with his double, now an intentional walk to bring in a lefty to face Ibanez. Would you pinch hit Rodriguez?

UPDATE, 7:03 p.m.: Ibanez says in to strikeout and end the inning. It’s a 2-0 Yankees lead heading into the seventh.

UPDATE, 7:18 p.m.: Good call by Girardi to play Granderson. His second hit of the game is a solo homer to push the lead to 3-0 in the seventh.